Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)
118 min. (Feature Film)
Biographical drama on the 1920s - 1930s career of singer Helen Morgan (Ann Blyth), from her carnival days to Broadway. With the help of ambitious bootlegger Larry Maddux (Paul Newman) and his partner Benny Weaver (Alan King), Helen finds herself singing in the speakeasies of New York, until married society millionaire Russell Wade falls for her, and introduces her to Broadway producer Flo Ziegfeld (Walter Woolf King). Cast as the lead in SHOWBOAT, Helen is the hit of Broadway and a national recording star. But Larry's ambition continues to take advantage of her fame, and depression over Wade's unavailability leads her to a quick decline into alcoholism, and a sanitarium.
Joe Besser has a brief appearance as a speakeasy bartender.
Filmed in CinemaScope.
Walter Woolf King ('Flo Ziegfeld') costarred with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in SWISS MISS (1938), and with The Marx Brothers in A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935) and GO WEST (1940).
Richard Carlson ('Russell Wade') costarred with Abbott and Costello (and Shemp Howard) in HOLD THAT GHOST (1941).
Ann Blyth
Helen Morgan
Paul Newman
Larry Maddux
Alan King
Benny Weaver
Richard Carlson
Russell Wade
Dorothy Green
Mrs. Wade
Gene Evans
Whitey Krause
Edward Platt
Johnny Haggerty
Walter Reed
Loring Kirk
Gogi Grant
Voice dub for Ann Blyth
Walter Woolf King
Flo Ziegfeld
Warren Douglas
Mark Hellinger
Jimmy McHugh
Himself
Rudy Vallee
Himself
Walter Winchell
Himself
Sammy White
Himself
Cara Williams
Dolly
Babette De Castro
Singer
Cherie De Castro
Singer
Peggy De Castro
Singer
Phil Arnold
Mr. Klingman
Iris Adrian
Klingman's secretary
Herb Vigran
Jim Finney
Leonid Kinskey
Stanislaus
Gayne Whitman
Big Ed Wallace
Ralph Reed
Red
Mary Scott
Dawn
Tito Vuolo
Tony
Maurice Marsac
Dubois
Bert Hanson
Eddie Bronson
Juanita Moore
Lacey, backstage maid
Maidie Norman
Helen's maid
Napoleon Whiting
Butler
Torben Meyer
Manager
Jack Lomas
Piano player
Corinna Mura
Guitarist
Cliff Ferre
M. C.
Robert Sherman
M. C.
Joe Besser
Speakeasy bartender
Stuart Holmes
Speakeasy patron
Paul Bryar
Bartender
Fred Rapport
Maitre 'd
Gabriel Curtiz
Maitre 'd
Sammy Wolfe
Waiter
Juney Ellis
Waitress
Julie Reding
Cigarette girl
Kathy Marlowe
Girl at bar
Donald Kerr
Club customer
Alphonse Berge
Customer
Leonard Bremen
Drunk
Cecil Elliot
Drunken woman
Betty Blythe
Party guest
Robert Clarke
Party guest
Eve Whitney
Society woman
Fred Sherman
Customs Inspector
Russ Clark
Chief
John McKee
Inspector
Court Shepard
Police Lieutenant
John Truax
Policeman
Robert Bice
Guard
Charles Cane
Turnkey
Joan Winfield
Nurse
Geraldine Bogdonovich
Young nurse
James Douglas
Intern
Joan Sudlow
Patient
Alan Sues
Producer
Eddie Marr
Director
Gary Judis
Usher
Allen Wood
Stagehand / vendor
Frank Sully
Vendor
Nicky Blair
Vendor
Miguel Palenzuela
Bellboy
Roxanne Arlen
Showgirl
Louise Glenn
B girl
Taylor Holmes
Elderly actor
Tony Dante
Krause hood
Gabe Mooradian
Henchman
Edmund Hashim
Henchman
Rory Mallinson
Pageant reporter
Robert Christopher
Reporter
Joe Evans
Artist
June McCall
Redhead
Gloria Victor
Blonde
Christine Nelson
Girl with boyish bob
Maurice Millard
Man in knickers
George Ramsey
Man in scarf
Alan Foster
Bum
Matt Moore
Bum
Salvatore Sportelli
Man with baby buggy
Howard Parker
Dancer
Mimi Reyes
Prostitute
Toni Turner
Flapper
Norma Jean Estell
Flapper
Michael Curtiz
Director
Martin Rackin
Producer
Nelson Gidding
Screenplay
Dean Reisner
Screenplay
Stephen Longstreet
Screenplay
Oscar Saul
Screenplay
Ted D. McCord
Director of Photography
Frank Bracht
Film Editor
John Beckman
Art Director
Howard Bristol
Set Decoration
Francis Scheid
Sound
Dolph Thomas
Sound
Ray Heindorf
Musical Director
Frank Comstock
Orchestrator
Gus Levene
Orchestrator
Jimmy McHugh
Original Music
Charles Henderson
Vocal Arrangements
Oscar Hammerstein
Music and Lyrics
Jerome Kern
Music and Lyrics
LeRoy Prinz
Choreographer
Howard Shoup
Costume Design
Gordon Bau
Makeup Supervisor
Paul Helmick
Assistant Director
Norman Stuart
Dialogue Director
Marilyn Reiss
Publicity
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